Comparing Diet and Exercise Approaches in Women (CWW)

Comparison of Two Diet and Exercise Approaches on Weight Loss and Health Outcomes in Obese Women

The purpose of this study is to determine whether following a Curves high protein/low fat diet (30% carbohydrate, 45% protein, 25% fat) for 30-days several times during 16 weeks of participating in the Curves fitness program promotes stepwise reductions in body weight, improvements in body composition and/or improvements in markers of fitness and health better than following the Weight Watchers Momentum Program for the same time period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Diet Modification
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Curves Circuit; Other: Weight Watchers

Detailed Description

The Curves International fitness and weight loss program has become a very popular means of promoting health and fitness among women. The program involves a 30-minute circuit training program and a weight management program involving periods of moderate caloric restriction (1,200 to 1,600 calories per day) followed by short periods of higher caloric intake (2,600 calories per day). The program is designed to promote a gradual reduction in body fat while increasing strength and muscle mass/tone. Researchers in the Exercise and Sport Nutrition Lab at Texas A&M University have conducted an extensive study on the effectiveness and safety of the Curves fitness and diet program. Results of this initial study have shown that the program promotes weight loss, improves markers of health, and improves fitness. The Weight Watchers program is another popular weight loss program. It provides a systematic approach to diet and exercise throughout the weight-loss process. Consequently we are interested in comparing the efficacy of both programs to one another. The purpose of this study is to determine whether following a Curves high protein/low fat diet (30% carbohydrate, 45% protein, 25% fat) for 30-days several times during 16 weeks of participating in the Curves fitness program promotes stepwise reductions in body weight, improvements in body composition and/or improvements in markers of fitness and health better than following the Weight Watchers Momentum Program for the same time period.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participant is female
• Participant is between the ages of 18 and 45
• Participant is sedentary and overweight (BMI > 27)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participant has any metabolic disorder including known electrolyte abnormalities, heart disease, arrhythmias, diabetes, thyroid disease, or hypogonadism;
• Participant has a history of hypertension, hepatorenal, musculoskeletal, autoimmune or neurological disease;
• Participant is taking thyroid, hyperlipidemic, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive or androgenic medications;
• Participant has been pregnant or lactating within the past 12 months or are planning to become pregnant during the next 12 months;
• Participant is involved in a planned exercise program (> 30 min./d. 3 d./wk.) within 3 - 6 months prior to the start of the study;
• Participant has taken any weight loss medications and/or dietary supplements that may affect muscle mass or body weight during the three month time period prior to beginning the study;
• Participant has a recent history of weight change (+/- 7 lbs. within the last 3 months).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control; No diet or exercise intervention
Experimental: Curves Program; The Curves group will follow the high protein/low fat diet (30% carbohydrate, 45% protein, 25% fat) for 7-days at 1,200 kcals/day and then 1,500 kcals/day for the remaining 21-days of the 30-day diet period. The participants will then consume a normal maintenance diet (2,200 kcals/d; 45% carbohydrate, 30% protein, 25% fat) for 30-days. During the maintenance period, participants will diet for 2-days at 1,200 kcals/day if they gain 3 pounds of weight.	Other: Curves Circuit; The Curves Circuit consists performing 13 hydraulic resistance exercise machines that utilize bidirectional resistance that work all major muscle groups. These are interspersed with floor-based calisthenic exercises designed to maintain an elevated heart rate.
Experimental: Weight Watchers Momentum Program; This program is based on the Weight Watchers four pillar approach (food, exercise, behavior and support). The Momentum Program uses POINTS values to help keep track of what you eat. A POINTS "budget" will be personalized for you at the weekly meetings.	Other: Weight Watchers; The Weight Watchers program encourages one to increase physical activity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Composition: Body Weight	Changes in body weight (lbs. body weight) obtained via digital scale and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Body Composition: Fat Mass	Changes in body composition (lbs. fat mass) obtained via Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Body Composition: Lean Mass	Changes in body composition (lbs. lean mass) obtained via DXA and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Body Composition: Percent Body Fat	Changes in body composition (% body fat) obtained via DXA and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Energy Homeostasis: Resting Energy Expenditure (REE)	Changes in REE obtained via metabolic cart and expressed in absolute (kcal/d) and relative terms (kcals/kg/d) and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscular Strength: 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) Bench Press	Changes in bench press 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) obtained from a bench press test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Muscular Strength: 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) Leg Press	Changes in leg press 1RM obtained from a leg press test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Muscular Endurance: 80% of 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) Bench Press Endurance Test	Changes in total repetitions at 80% of 1RM obtained from a bench press test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Muscular Endurance: 80% of 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) Leg Press Endurance Test	Changes in total repetitions at 80% of 1RM obtained from a leg press test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: Cholesterol	Changes in cholesterol obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: HDL Cholesterol	Changes in HDL cholesterol obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: LDL Cholesterol	Changes in LDL cholesterol obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: Triglycerides	Changes in triglycerides obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Lipid Panel: Cholesterol:HDL Ratio	Changes in cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Glucose	Changes in glucose obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hormones: Insulin	Changes in insulin obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hormones: Leptin	Changes in leptin obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR): Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance	Changes in HOMA-IR obtained via venous blood draws and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hemodynamic Variable: Resting Heart Rate (HR)	Changes in resting heart rate (HR) obtained via a blood pressure meter and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hemodynamic Variable: Resting Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)	Changes in resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) obtained via a blood pressure meter and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Hemodynamic Variable: Resting Diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP)	Changes in resting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) obtained via a blood pressure meter and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Anthropometric Measures: Waist Circumference	Changes in waist circumference obtained via tape measure and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Anthropometric Measures: Hip Circumference	Changes in hip circumference obtained via tape measure and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Anthropometric Measures: Waist to Hip Ratio	Changes in the ratio of waist to hip (waist/hip circumference) analyzed with related anthropometric outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Exercise Capacity: Peak Exercise Capacity (VO2)	Changes in exercise capacity (VO2 max) obtained via a treadmill test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Exercise Capacity: Time to Peak Exercise Capacity (time to peak VO2)	Changes in exercise capacity (time to peak VO2 max) obtained via a treadmill test and analyzed by General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 16 weeks
Dietary Energy Intake: Total Caloric Intake (kcals/d)	Changes in caloric/energy intake (kcals/d) analyzed with related energy intake outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Dietary Energy Intake: Carbohydrate	Changes in dietary carbohydrate intake (g/d and g/kg/d) analyzed with related energy intake outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Dietary Energy Intake: Fat	Changes in dietary fat intake (g/d and g/kg/d) analyzed with related energy intake outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks
Dietary Energy Intake: Protein	Changes in dietary protein intake (g/d and g/kg/d) analyzed with related energy intake outcome measures via General Linear Model multivariate and univariate analyses with repeated measures and mean change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI's)	Measured prior to supplementation (Pre), and after 4, 6, 10, 12 and 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Texas A&M University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Richard B Kreider, PhD, Texas A&M University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lockard B, Mardock M, Oliver JM, Byrd M, Simbo S, Jagim AR, Kresta J, Baetge CC, Jung YP, Koozehchian MS, Khanna D, Rasmussen C, Kreider RB. Comparison of Two Diet and Exercise Approaches on Weight Loss and Health Outcomes in Obese Women. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 17;19(8). pii: 4877. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19084877.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 19, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 22, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): March 22, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 30, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): May 4, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 4, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2020
• Last Verified: April 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise Intervention
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB2010-0130F

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No